What Happened
A trial has begun over the December 17, 2019 massacre inside La Joyita prison in Panama, where 13 inmates were killed and 11 others were wounded. Prosecutors say the violence may have been triggered by an order from Rubén Camargo Clarke, also known as Cholo Chorrillo, the alleged leader of the Bagdad gang.
According to the prosecution’s theory of the case, the order was received inside a pavilion holding about 200 inmates and called for scores to be settled with a rival group of prisoners. The case has placed renewed attention on one of the deadliest episodes of prison violence in recent Panamanian history.
Gang Rivalries Behind the Violence
The La Joyita killings were part of a wider cycle of revenge attacks linked to gang disputes in Panama Oeste, where homicides rose sharply around that period. Bagdad, one of the country’s main criminal groups, has been described as a structure that brings together smaller local factions to support drug trafficking and expand control.
One of those factions, known as Matar O Morir, or MOM, was said to have broken from the larger organization after keeping a drug shipment for itself. The prison attack was then seen as retaliation aimed at punishing defectors and reinforcing Bagdad’s authority.
Why La Joyita Matters
La Joyita has long symbolized the weakness of Panama’s prison security system. The complex, which includes La Joyita, La Joya and La Nueva Joya, has faced criticism for lacking basic safeguards such as watchtowers, lights, cameras, metal detectors and scanners.
Officials have also pointed to chronic understaffing. With only 800 prison guards nationwide, the system depends heavily on the national police, while overcrowding continues to strain operations. The prison occupancy rate has been estimated at 123 percent, and La Joyita was originally built as a temporary holding center rather than a permanent facility.
What the Case Means
The trial is expected to keep attention on the connection between prison conditions, organized crime and public security in Panama. The La Joyita massacre exposed how heavily armed gangs were able to operate inside a major detention center and how prison violence has spilled beyond the walls into communities in Panama Oeste.
That broader pattern has fueled concern about the state’s ability to contain gang warfare as drug trafficking networks deepen their reach. The outcome of the trial may shape how authorities confront both prison security failures and the criminal organizations behind them.